Garage door opener safety
Be cautious
Do not stand or walk under a moving garage door!
Do not let children or adults play ‘race the garage door’. It is dangerous and can result in serious injury or death. Adults should set a good example. Know how to use the emergency release, in case someone is pinned underneath the garage door.
Do not let children play with or use the garage door opener remote controls. Always place and store them out of the reach of children. The pushbutton control on the wall should be at least 5 feet from the floor and away from all moving parts. Mount and use the button where you can clearly see the moving garage door.
Garage door openers are not toys
Careless operation and allowing children to play with or use garage door opener controls can lead to tragic results. Discuss garage door safety with your children. Explain the dangers of being trapped under the door. Accidents frequently occur as a result of children ‘riding the door’.
Testing and maintaining the garage door opener
There are routine safety and maintenance steps you should follow once a month. Review your owner’s manual for the door opener. If you don’t have the owner’s manual, look for the opener model number on the back of the power unit and request a manual from the manufacturer.
Reversal test
Make sure your opener has a reversing feature. Garage door openers without this feature need to be replaced. Garage door openers manufactured after January 1, 1993 are required by federal law to have advanced safety features which comply with the latest U.I. 325 standards: Contact us for additional information.
Test the reversing feature every month
Periodically test the balance of your garage door.
- First, test the balance of the door (see 'Testing and Maintaining the Garage Door' on the Door Safety page). If the door is properly balanced then proceed.
- With the door fully open, place a roll of paper towels on the floor in the center of the door.
- Push the remote control or wall button to close the door. The door must reverse when it strikes the roll of paper towels. (Note that the bottom part of 'one piece doors' must be rigid so that the door will not close without reversing).
- If the door does not reverse, have a certified technician adjust, repair or replace the opener or door.
Force setting test
Test the force setting of your garage door opener by holding the bottom of the door as it closes. If the door does not reverse readily, the force may be excessive and need adjusting. See your owners manual for details on how to make the adjustment. Test the reversing feature after any adjustment.